Connect with us

Business

2014 Budget Designed To Encourage Manufacturing Sector – Jonathan

Published

on

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the 2014 budget and beyond was designed to encourage the manufacturing sector for employment generation.

Jonathan said this at the inauguration of the Board of the National Competitive Council of Nigeria (NCCN) recently.

The council, which is chaired by the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, is charged with the responsibility of, among other things, proposing policies and recommendations that will enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness ranking and revitalise the Nigerian economy.

The 18-member board is also expected to generate policies and programmes that will attract domestic and foreign investment particularly in the manufacturing sector, create sales for local businesses and more markets for products made in Nigeria.

Jonathan said Government will continue to support private initiatives and encourage private bodies to key into our transformation agenda. We have to commend the private sector for their commitment in setting up this body that will help government and the private sector.

He further stated that “I wish the pioneer NNCC board every success in this assignment and I have every confidence that you will not let our nation down. We believe that without encouraging the private sector, especially the manufacturing sector, we cannot get out of the current economic position no matter how we struggle to produce primary produce, they will not create enough jobs for this country.

He said “that is why for the next two years and may be beyond 2015, Nigerian budget will be geared towards encouraging manufacturing sector in this country.”

The president tasked the board to bench mark, monitor and evaluate Nigeria’s competitiveness ranking and make viable recommendation that would achieve consensus on policy measures.

He also tasked them to create and release the report on Nigeria’s competitiveness to guide Nigeria’s development and policy frame work.

He said the board should coordinate local efforts to stimulate competitiveness by communicating and cooperating with stakeholders through hosting of events, seminars and local level conference.

“Let me emphasise that the federal government accords great importance to this assignment and will therefore support you to achieve this vital task of improving our country’s business environment.”

The president said members of the council were selected to serve on the board on account of their proven integrity, unwavering patriotism and uncommon sense of duty.

Responding on behalf of other members, Aganga thanked the President for his foresight and determination to create conducive environment for business to thrive in Nigeria.

He listed the gains of the council to include; increase in productivity, expansion of markets for local products, job and wealth creation.

The mnister assured that the board would deliver on its mandate.

Members of the board include the President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and the Director-General, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr. Frank Nweke (jnr).

Also on the board are Mr Tony Elumelu and Ms. Funke Adekoya (SAN); Prof. Esogbue Augustine; Ms. Ike Yvonne, Publisher, Business Day; and Mr. Frank Aigbigun, among others.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, says the newly inaugurated board of National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN) has an onerous task to increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into the country.

Aganga said this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the mandate of the council, which was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the inauguration of the council was a demonstration of government’s determination to improve the country’s global competitiveness ranking and revitalise its economy.

The Minister said the inauguration of the 18-member board was geared toward increasing productivity and sales for local businesses, adding that it would lead to the creation of more markets for Made-in-Nigeria products.

He said “the objective is to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness by policies that will create an economy that attracts domestic and foreign investment without focusing on any specific interest group or sector.

“The council shall be the focal body responsible for creating awareness on national competitiveness in the country as well as coordinate the efforts of both the public and private sectors to improve Nigeria’s Competitiveness,’’ he said.

The council, according to him, shall recommend relevant policies, proactively monitor and evaluate the progress being made at national and sub-national levels as well as liaise with councils of other countries on global competitiveness issues.

Aganga, said “this will go a long way in developing National Public Policy initiatives to address short, medium and long-term Competitiveness issues confronting the country.”

Continue Reading

Business

Eazipay  Offers Zero-Interest Loans To  150,000 SMEs, Employees

Published

on

With a mission to ignite growth, encourage business continuity and help businesses and employees thrive, Eazipay is gearing up to propel the dreams of 150,000 SMEs and employees to new heights through her relief fund.
Gone are the days of financial constraints and stifled dreams. With Eazipay’s support, SMEs and employees alike can bid farewell to limitations and embrace a world of endless possibilities.
Whether it’s start up,  business expansion or personal development, Eazipay is here to make dreams come true.
The mind-blowing initiative, which  kicked off this month, would end in December, and will also offer a range of perks and benefits designed to put a smile on the faces of SMEs and employees alike.
From exclusive discounts to various advisory services and beyond, Eazipay is committed to spreading happiness and creating lasting impact in people’s lives and to the growth of businesses.
The technology company which offers products and services that range from payroll management to IT/Device management and assessments, “Eazipay isn’t just providing financial support but also unleashing a wave of growth and prosperity for SMEs and employees across the nation.
“Interested businesses and individuals can take part in this initiative directly from the Eazipay website: www.myeazipay.com”.

Continue Reading

Business

SMEs Critical For Sustainable Dev – Commissioner

Published

on

The Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State, Abayomi Oluyomi, has described Small and medium Enterprises (SMEs) as a critical engine for sustainable development in any economy.
He said this recently at the 10th anniversary of the Alert Group Microfinance Bank and the opening of their new head office in Lagos.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, SMEs accounted for about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s gross.
He commended the positive impact of the Alert MFB as it empowers SMEs in the State.
“Alert MFB in the past 10 years has been at the forefront of empowering SMEs in Lagos State, disbursing over N30bn in loans to over 30,000 individuals having small to medium businesses over that period, which is quite remarkable”, he said.
Speaking, the Group Managing Director of Alert Group, Dr Kazeem Olanrewaju, revealed that the financial institution commenced business in 2013 as a microfinance bank.
“We started this journey in 2013 and it has been expanding. Today, they have about 10 branches across Lagos. They have supported well over 30,000 clients and have disbursed over N30bn.
“The company has been profitable since the second year. Looking at the market and the available opportunity, the Alert MFB board decided to come together to establish a Microfinance Institute (MFI), which is the Auto Bucks Lenders”, Dr. Olanrewaju said.
The GMD further stated that the company was focused more on supporting businesses and small and medium enterprises.
“The loan to support business represents over 98 per cent. The consumer loans you will see are the ones given to entrepreneurs. So, the area of focus of Alert MFB and Auto Bucks Lenders is to support businesses across the country.
“With the establishment of Auto Bucks Lenders, we have the opportunity to also do business outside Lagos. So, presently, we have offices in Ogun State and Oyo State. We intend to go to every part of Nigeria to support what we are doing”, he declared.

Continue Reading

Business

Retailers Explain Price Drop In  Cement Cost

Published

on

The cement market, in the last couple of weeks, has seen a significant turnaround with prices tumbling from between N10,000 and N15,000 per 50kg bag to between N7,000 and N8,000.
The sudden rise in the prices of cement and other major building materials in February this year upsets  the construction industry, especially in real estate, where many developers were forced to abandon building sites.
A recent market survey conducted by The Tide’s source in different locations across the country confirmed a price drop, ranging between N7,000 and N7,500 per bag, though BUA cement is selling for N7,500 to N7,800 per 50kg bag, depending on location.
Both entrepreneurs and major distributors who were interviewed,  explained that the price drop is due to low demand and government’s intervention.
At the peak of the price hike, the Federal Government called a meeting with major producers where it was agreed that a bag of cement should be between for N7,000 to N8,000, depending on location.
But the producers did not comply with this agreement immediately, followin which “Nigerians stopped demanding for cement; many project sites were abandoned as developers sat back and waited for the prices to come down.
“So, what has happened is an inter-play of demand and supply with price responding, which is Economics at work”, Collins Okpala, a cement dealer, told the source in Abuja.
In the Nyanya area of the Federal Capital Territory, a 50-kg bag of Dangote cement now sells for between N7,000 and N7,500, while BUA cement sells for between N8,500 and N9,500, down from between N11,000 and N12,000 respectively.
In Lagos, the product has seen significant price drop too. In Ojo area of the state, Sebastin Ovie, a dealer, told our reporter that what has happened is a crash from the January price, attributing the crash to low demand and stronger naira.
“The current price of the product is between N7,000 and N7,500 per 50kg bag, depending on the brand. This is a significant drop from the average of N12,000 which most dealers were selling in February and March”, he said.
A dealer in Agege area of the state who identified himself as Taofik Olateju, told the source that sales are picking up due to the drop in price.
He recalled that Nigerians at a point stopped buying due to the high price of the product at N15,000 per bag.
“I am sure most dealers ran at a loss then because we had mainly old stocks which we wanted to offload quickly”, he said, confirming that the product sells for between N7,500 and N8,000, depending on the brand and the demand for the brand.
Continuing, Olateju noted that “because the naira is now doing well against the dollar, it will be unreasonable for manufacturers to continue to sell the product at the old prices. I also believe that the federal government’s intervention and the threat to license more importers may have worked, leading to the reduction in price”.
In Enugu, the source reports that the product sells for between N7,200 and N7,500 depending on the brand and location.
“This is a city where the price of a 50kg bag went for as high as N12,000 and N13,000 in some cases in February and March”, Samuel Chikwendu said.
He added that the prices of other building materials, especially iron rods, have also dropped considerably which is why, he said, activities are picking up again at construction sites.
The story is slightly different in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, where Innocent Okonkwo told the source that low demand was also driving the price drop, adding that a 50kg bag was selling for N9,000 on the average in the state.
Sundry market observers are optimistic of further price reductions, but they remain cautious as manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers continue to play critical roles in setting prices for end-users.
They lamented, however, that despite Nigeria’s status as one of the largest producers of cement in Africa, the price of the product continues to rise, particularly in the face of high inflation impacting the building materials market generally.
Okpala in Abuja highlighted the variations arising from direct sourcing from manufacturers versus procurement through dealers, with traders holding old stocks selling products at prices ranging from N8,500, N8,300 to N8,000 per bag.
Lucy Nwachukwu, another dealer in Abuja, said the significance of  procurement volume in determining cement costs, noting that stability in prices has been observed over the past month, with the product retailing for between N7,000 and N7,800 depending on the brand.
In Port Harcourt also, a customer, Daniel Etteobong Effiong, said the price goes between N7500 to N8500, depending on the brand and the location one is buying from.

Continue Reading

Trending